Fans have been discussing a “Pick&Ban” feature for Overwatch almost since the game’s beginning. Lead Hero Designer Geoff Goodman has now commented on it.
Why is the feature not here yet? The main reason why heroes cannot be permanently selected and banned in Overwatch is the current number of heroes.
With the new hero Baptiste, Overwatch has just received its 30th hero. According to Goodman, the hero roster would need to be significantly larger for such a system to make sense:
At the moment, we don’t think we are at a point where we have enough heroes for it to make sense. However, if we reach a point where it feels “too much,” then we could do something like that.
Goodman via IGN
At the moment, however, no “Pick&Ban” feature is planned.
What is this feature for? The system is likely familiar to many eSports fans and players from the MOBA genre, such as League of Legends or from shooters like Rainbow Six: Siege.
In the “Pick&Ban” system, both teams take turns going through the hero list. They choose a hero to be played by their team, which is then permanently selected. Subsequently, the opponents choose according to specific patterns.
Between these “Picks,” there are then “Bans.” Each team bans one or more heroes for the match. These are then not available for play in a match.
What is the purpose of the system? Fans hope that such a system would provide a better gaming experience in ranked matches and also a better viewing experience at eSports events like the Overwatch League.
Currently, the Overwatch League has a big problem with the boring meta. Since the same heroes and combinations are played with little variation, it quickly becomes tedious. The system could provide relief here.
Players also hope that less played heroes will come into focus and that the balance will improve. They hope that this will make it easier to break static metas like the currently dominant GOATS meta.
This is the criticism of it: There is still no single, concrete idea for implementation. Many fans have already thought about how a “Pick&Ban” system in Overwatch could look. However, they keep running into problems:
- Overwatch is built around changing heroes. This would be hardly possible with Picks&Bans.
- A compromise between hero selection and Picks&Bans is hardly possible for many.
- In the professional area, many see the problem that simply unpopular heroes like Bastion could be banned every round. It would change nothing.
Whether and how the system will be integrated in the distant future remains to be seen. Currently, it seems too complicated and not yet meaningful. Overwatch needs more heroes first.
What do you think about the system?
One hope of the players is to see unpopular heroes more frequently on the big screen. Like a heroine who had her first appearance:
